Joint effort prioritizes projects, needs

A collaboration between the Jefferson City, Capital Region Medical Center, Jefferson City Public Works Department, and the Department of Planning and Protective Services will bring a more efficient way to prioritize public concerns about infrastructure projects.

The Sidewalk Management System (SMS) is a comprehensive data map for all citywide projects that helps all areas of city operations take a look at projects in a holistic way.

For the past year, GIS Manager Buster Schrage and his team have worked to develop a system that can identify any sidewalks, stormwater, waste water and emergency management need throughout the city.

"The worst thing that a resident could see happen is to get a sidewalk fixed and it be torn up the next year to fix another problem," Public Works Director Matt Morasch said. "This program is a planning tool that we've upgraded with data we've logged over the years."

Factors that go into whether a project is completed include:

  • City ward boundaries,
  • Census track boundaries,
  • Proximity to a school,
  • Cemetary locations,
  • Jeff Tran stop,
  • Hospital locations and
  • Cost.

As a result of this system, the city will be able to run a report based on those boundaries.

"This is an added thing that administrators can do without having to go through the individual layers that each department may have on their radar," Schrage said.

Morasch emphasized this model is one of the tools the city will use to prioritize projects. The costs for projects are relative, not actual.

Between 2010-12 there were an estimated $2 million needed repairs citywide, Morasch said, excluding new repairs cited and gaps that need to be filled. In the past five years, the city spent $250,000 on repairs.

For example, a sidewalk project on Broadway was cited as a needed repair in 2016 and would cost an estimate of $165,000.

A sidewalk will be added with the help of the Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities grant, the city and funding from the Community Development Block Grant.

"Ultimately, we are saving lives with this project, while providing more opportunity for physical activity across the city," Ashley Varner, Healthy Communities coodinator at Capital Region Medical Center, said.

Sonny Sanders, city senior transportation planner, agreed.

He said no sidewalks are bad when they ecourage people to take a walk, ride a bike or be healthy in general.

Jayme Abbott, neighborhood services coordinator at the city, explained she could use the tool as an additional source to determine where community development block grant funds are needed, based on whether projects fall into eligible census tracts under federal regulations.

"If there is an economy of scale by combining a sidewalk repair with some other project, we try to do that so that we get the best use out of our money," Morasch said.

Residents will be able to visit www.midmogis.org to see a visual of the land around them and upcoming projects on the website, including those approved by the City Council.

In addition to the website, residents who call the city with a concern will have their information inserted into the database so the planning team can review the concern and make a decision on how they will address the project.

"I think this is a good internal planning tool that can be used so staff can respond to people's inquires much better than before," Morasch said.

Abbott added, "It provides a direct affect to everyone in the community by providing more accountability, more transparency, documentation, and provides a more comprehensive view of what's needed."